I've actually been trolling here for months, the site is a good resource. A little while ago I decided to register and participate, and as fate would have it, right at the point I started coming here daily the articles trailed right off after the NHL season tanked. Got the day off today, thought I'd throw up a couple posts. Cheers.

Anyone want to discuss the article?? Anyway, I'd love for one of these alternate leagues to take off... I've been going to the ECHL games here, and let me tell you, that's sum bad Hockey. I'd also like to see the rules go back to favoring speed and skill over bruising. We Yanks have totally fudged up the sport of Hockey by making it a brawl instead of a ballet. Let's get us some little guys who can move out there, chuck the blue line, and enforce hooking. Oh, Yeah, no teams named after a crappy movie by the owner.

I can't see replacement players actually coming into the picture. I'm pretty sure Bettman's been gunning for a legal declared impasse for ten years, and that's what we'll see this summer. If I'm wrong, though, I'd follow the talent to another league. Replacements just wouldn't do it for me if there was another available option.

I can't see paying good money to see replacement players. If I want a minor-league game, I'll go to a minor league game rather than attending a pseudo NHL game. Now Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow being checked (repeatedly) into the boards, I'd pay to see.

I think reinstating the tag-up offside will help combat the trap immensely - right now, clearing the zone gives the defensive team time to set up into the 2-1-2, torpedo or trap - letting the tag-up go means increased pressure on the defensemen to move the puck smartly and quickly, and punishes the defensemen for being unable to do so. Replacement players is pretty much a union-busting strategy. Bettman knows that given the shitiness of the product already, worse players are not going to be attracting anymore corporate sponsorship.